Display carton



- Feb. 19, 1963 G. v`. sKowR'oNsKl 3,078,028

DISPLAY CARTON Filed Jan. 23, 1961 4.Sheets-Sheet l 22a, ,2215EA Q)252221, ,22 2| GEORGE V .SKOUBONSK/ INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Feb. 19, 1963 G. v. sKowRoNsKl DISPLAY CARTON www Filed Jan. 23, 1961IN1/MTM Geom@ v oKowmA/.sx/ BY ATTORNEKS.

Feb. 19, 1963 G. v. sKowRoNsKl v 3,078,028

' DISPLAY CARTON 4 Sheets-@Shet 3 Filed Jan. 23, 1961 l INVENTOILGEORGE' V 5l( OUONSK 8%7( ATTONY.

Feb. 19, 1963 G. V. SKOWRONSKI DISPLAY CARTON 4 Sheets-Sh'et 4 FiledJan. 25. 1961 INVENTR. GEORGE V .SKll/RONSK ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent Ollice 3,(l78,028 Patented Feb. 19, 1963 Filed Jan.23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,357 3 Claim. (Cl. 229-39) This invention relatesto a cushioned display carton which may be made from a single blank.More specifically, the invention may with particularadvantage be used asa carton for the display packaging of food products.

lt is desirable when displaying certain foods to employ a windowedcarton. Usually these cartons are six sided with a portion of top panelremoved to form a window opening. These cartons are usually eithercompletely overwrapped or else have a sheet of transparent materialattached to the perimeter of and covering the opening. Rather thanmerely employ a carton blank with the center portion of the top panelremoved and unused, it is conaiderably more economical to employ anintegral blank wherein the removable center portion of the top paneldrops down to form the bottom panel in the completed carton. Thisreduces the overall area of the blank required since allowance of extramaterial around the perimeter of the blank for forming the bottom -panelis eliminated.

ln the packaging of certain foods, it is desirable to construct thecartons in such a manner as to minimize damage to the product due todropping. Several methods including the use of packing, suspension ofthe product oit the bottom of the carton by side pressure means andseparate cradle means have been employed to prevent contact between thecommodity and the bottom of the package. Such methods prevent damage tothe packaged commodity if any portion of the bottom is broken orcrushed. y

The above mentioned methods of the prior art have proved unsatisfactoryfrom several standpoints. For instance, the addition of a packingmaterial is time consuming, not well suited to large scale, quickloading procedures and the packing clings to the commodity necessitatingseparation by the consumer. ln the case of suspension by pressure meansagainst the sides of the commodity, slippage and deformation of thecommodity commonly occurs. The use or" separate cradle means involvesadditional material and is time consuming to completely set up thecarton.

According to the present invention a carton utilizing the drop down of aportion of what would normally be the top panel to form a cushion panelcan be constructed from a single piece of material so that the cartoncan be readily mac Line loaded, closed and provide positive means forsuspending the commodity at a distance from the bottom of the carton toprevent dropping damage to the packaged commodity. The carton of thisinvention after being loaded and closed can be overwrapped or havetransparent sheet material attached to the window opening to form anattractive windowed display package.

Further details and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following specilication and appended drawings wherein:

FiGURE l is a plan view of a single blank suitably cut and scored toform a carton having a cushioning panel for suspending the commodity tobe contained therein at a predetermined distance from the bottom of thecarton,

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the blank of FIGURE 1 following folding andgluing of the bottom panel,

FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the blank of FIG- URE l partially setup to form the carton shell,

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the closed carton,

FIGURE 5 is a sectional end view of the closed carton taken along 5 5 ofFIGURE 4, and

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of the closed carton containing thecommodity and overwra-pped with a transparent sheet material.

Referring to FIGURE l, the carton is made of a single foldable blank ofexible material such as paperboard. The blank is divided by score lines10a-10c, 11a-11b, 12-14 and cut lines 17, 18a-18b and 19 into hingedlyconnected panels and aps, including cushion panel 30, top panels 31,inner end panels 32, inner side panels 33, 34, outer side panels 35, 35,outer end panels 37, closure aps 33, bottom panel 39 and glue flap 40.

Supporting tabs 21, hingedly connected along score lines 15, projectfrom closure aps 38. Locking tabs 20 are hingedly connected along scorelines 20a to outer end panels 37. Score line 20a is located inward ofthe outer Vedge of the outer side panel 37 as deined by cut lines 29'ss'o that when the locking tab is folded about score line 2da it liesinward of the outer edge of the outer side panel. The bottom edges ofclosure flaps 38 are cut at 22h, a distance approximately equal to thethickness of the blank, so that edge portion 22C lies inward of outeredge portion 22a. Edge portions 22a of closure flaps 38 are essentiallyequal in length to cut lines 20c of locking tabs 20. When the carton isclosed, edge portion 20c of locking tab Ztl seats behind edge portion22a of closure iap 38 in locked relationship as will be more fullyexplained herein.

After the blank has been formed, adhesive is applied to the underside ofglue ilap 40. The side panel with glue ilap 4d connected thereto isfolded inwardly along score line 11a-11b to lie ilat in superposedrelationship on cushion panel 3d. Bottom panel 39 is then foldedinwardly along score line 13 to lie ilat in superposed relationship oncushion panel 30 and adhered along the outer edge to glue -ap 4d. Theglued carton blank is shown in FlGURE 2. The carton blank in this stagemay be shipped to the user where it can be readily set up, loaded andlocked in the users plant.

ln setting up the carton, the glued blank of FIGURE 2 is squared to forma carton shell. Cushion panel 3l) is then dropped down out of the toppanel by folding inner side panels 33, 3A; outwardly and downwardly fromtheir initial position in the squared shell. Inner side panels 33, 34are parallel to and in abutting relationship with outer side panels 35,36, respectively. The double thickness of the side panels providesadditional strength to prevent the inward collapse of the carton whenloaded. This stage in the carton erection is shown in FIGURE 3. Outerend panel 37 is shown in raised position to facilitate depiction of theend construction.

The location of the cushion panel 3l) with respect to the top and bottompanels is determined by score lines 12 in the side panels. Score lines12 are located closer to the upper edges of the carton than to thebottom edges. Thus the height of the inner side panels 33, 34 is lessthan the height of the portions of the outer side panels 3S, 36 fromscore lines 12 to the bottom edge of said outer side panels. Hence whenfolded down, cushion panel 3l) will be parallel to, but suspended abovebottom panel 39. Thus the distance between cushion panel 3l) and ybottompanel 39 in the erected carton is established by the predeterminedlocation of score lines 12 in the carton blank. The actual distanceemployed between the bot-tom panel, and cushion panel is determined by abalancing of economic considerations. Preferably, the paperboard orother material employed should be resilient, yet still enough to preventundue depression of the cushioning panel when the carton is loaded.Since the thicker the material the greater l inner side panels the cost,a thinner more flexible material would -be advantageous from theeconomic standpoint. But this would necessitate a greater distancebetween the bottom and cushioning panels either reducing the loadingarea per given carton size or else increasing the size of the particularcarton necessary for a given commodity, both of which `add to theproduction costs.

In order to close the carton shell, inner end panels 32 are foldedupwardly and inwardly along score lines a so as to stand approximatelyperpendicular to cushion panel 3G. Supporting tabs 21 are then foldedinwardly along score lines to approximately right angles with closureaps 38. Closure aps 38 are then folded inwardly against inner end panels32 in superposed relationship. When closure flaps 38 are adjacent toinner end panels 32, supporting tabs 21 abut each other between bottompanel 39 and cushion panel 30. Lockingtabs 20 are folded down aboutscore lines a to a position perpendicular to outer end panels 37. Outerend panels 37 are then folded down along score lines 10b with lockingtabs 20 inserted between bottom panel 39 and the bottom edges of closureflaps 3S in locked relationship. The closed carton is shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 5 is an end sectional view showing the end support for cushionpanel 30. Cushion panel 30 is supported on all four edges. Panel 30, asdeiined by score lines 11a, is hingedly connected along its side edgesto 33 and 34. Supporting tabs 21 are interposed between the cushionpanel 30 and the bottom of the carton. The height of the supporting tabsis correlated with score lines 12 so as to maintain the end edges of thecushion panel 30 the same distance as the side edges are 4from thebottom panel 39.

Prior to the closing of the carton shell shown in FIG- URE 3 thecommodity to be packaged can be readily inserted either by hand or bymachine. The carton is then closed and overwrapped to form the iinisheddisplay package shown in FlGURE 6. Alternatively the carton may -beclosed first, then the commodity to be packaged inserted through the topand an overwrap applied. A'transparent sheet material, which forms anoutside window when adhered to the periphery of the window opening, maybe employed rather Ithan an overwrap, if maintaining the freshness ofthe commodity to be packaged is not critical.

The present invention provides a carton that can be made from a unitaryblank. The carton can be readily set up, filled with the commodity to bepackaged, and locked by automatic machinery. The carton provides amaximum of window area, yet retains its original shape with bending andbulging minimized by support along all four edges of the cushionedpanel. The carton minimizes damage to the packaged commodity caused bydropping, by its cushion panel suspending `the commodity above thebottom panel at a predetermined distance. v

Although the cushion panel 30 in the specific embodiment is providedwith supporting tabs 21 at the end edges, it is apparent that if alesser degree of support is required, 4the cushion panel may besuspended from the inner side panels only. This embodiment is notpreferred due. to the greater degree of carton distortion whensuspension is along two edges only. Since the particular end closuremeans i.e. the locking tabs, do not form part of .the invention, otherappropriate locking means, stapling or gluing may be employed. In placeof the overwrap, a sheet of transparent material may be adhered atitsperiphery to the edge of the opening defined by score lines `12 andcut lines 17 and 18a-13b. It is apparent that the size and shape of thecarton and the material from which it is formed may be varied innumerous ways according to the desires of those skilled in the artwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A uni-tary carton blank adapted to be formed into a display cartonhaving window openings, said blank being suitably cut and scored toforni a central panel defined by a pair of longitudinal parallel spacedscore lines and a pair of transverse parallel spaced score lines; a pairof opposed side panels hingedly attached to said central panel alongsaid longitudinal score lines; a pair of opposed end panels hingedlyattached to said central panel by said transverse score lines and havingend closure means hingedly attached thereto; a Ibottom panel hingedlyattached to one of said side panels along the longitudinal edge oppositethe said central panel; said central panel being divided by angular cutlines near the corners thereof into a cushion panel and top panelslocated at the corners of said central panel; said side panels bearinginternal score lines lying nearer -to the, longitudinal edge thereofadjacent said central panel than to the opposite longitudinal edge, theends of said internal score lines being connected by cut lines with theadjacent ends of said angular cut lines whereby said side panels aredivided into inner side panels lying adjacent the longitudinal edges ofsaid cushion panel and outer side panels lying outside said cnnectingcut lines and said internal score lines joining t ern.

2. The carton blank of claim l wherein said. outer side panels havevdust flaps hingedly attached to the lateral edges, said dust iiapshaving supporting tabs hingedly attacehd to .the edge opposite saidouter side panels.

3. The carton blank of claim l wherein said end panels bear internal cutlines lying nearer the edge adjacent said central panel than to theopposite edge, the ends of said internal cut lines being connected bycut lines with the adjacent ends of said angular cut lines whereby saidend panels are divided into inner end panels lying adjacent the lateraledge of said cushion panel and outer vend panels lying outside saidconnecting out lines and the internal cut lines joining them.

4. The carton blank of claim 3 wherein said outer side panels have dustfiaps hingedly attached to the lateral edges, said dust flaps havingsupporting tabs hingedly attached to the edge opposite said outer sidepanels.

5. A cushioned display carton formed of a single blank suitably cut andscored comprising a pair of opposed outer side panels being cutaway attheir upper central portions; polygonal top panels hingedly connected tothe lateral portions of the upper edges of the outer side panels locatedat the ends of said carton and of size to close only a portion of thetop of the carton; a pair of opposed inner side panels hingedlyconnected to said outer side panels at score lines which form the upperedges of said inner side panels and are intermediate the upper and loweredges of said outer side panels, the height of said inner side panelsbeing appreciably less than the distance from said score lines to thelower edges of the outer side panels; 4a cushion panel hingedlyconnected along ari opposite pair of side edges to the lower edges ofsaid inner side panels at a distance from the lower edge of said cartonequal to the difference in height between the lower edges of said innerside panels and the lower edges of said outer Lside panels; a pair ofopposed end panels attached at their upper edges to said top paneis; abottom panel hingedly attached to the lower edges of said outer sidepanels and closure means hingedly connected to the end edges of saidcarton for maintaining the carton in permanent set-up form with saidcushion panel being suspended an appreciable distance above the bottompanel and to provide a continuous window opening comprising the cut awayportions of said outer side panels and the unclosed portion of the topof the carton.

6. A cushioned display carton formed of a single blank suitably cut andscored comprising a pair of opposed outei side panels being cut away attheir upper central portions; polygonai top panels hingedly connected tothe lateral portions of the upper edges of the outer side panels locatedat the ends of said carton and of size to close only a portion of thetop of the carton; a pair of opposed inner side panels h ingedlyconnected to said outer -side panels at score lines which form the upperedges of said inner side panels and are intermediate the top and bottomedges of said outer side panels, the height of said inner side panelsbeing appreciably less than the distance from said score lines to thelower edges of the outer side panels; a cushion panel hingedly connectedalong an opposite pair of side edges to the lower edges of said innerside panels at a distance from the lower edge of said carton equal tothe diierence in height between the lower edges of said inner sidepanels and the lower edges of said outer side panels; a pair of opposedend panels attached at their upper edges to said top panels; a bottomp-anel hingedly attached to the lower edges of said outer side panelsand closure means hingedly connected to the end edges of said carton;said closure means having supporting tabs hingedly attached thereto,said supporting tabs located in the closed carton between and in contactwith the top of said bottom panel and the bottom of said cushion panelat the lateral edges of said panels so as to support said cushion panelat a distance from said bottom panel and to provide a continuous windowopening comprising the cut away portions of said outer side panels andthe unclosed portion of the top of the carton.

7. A cushioned display carton formed of a single blank suitably cut andscored comprising a pair of opposed outer side panels being cut away attheir upper central portions; polygonal top panels hingedly connected tothe lateral portions of the upper edges of the outer side panels locatedat the ends of said carton and of size to close only a portion of thetop of the carton; a pair of opposed inner side panels hingedlyconnected to said outer side panels at score lines which form the upperedges of said inner side panels and are intermediate the top and bottomedges of said outer side panels, the height of said inner side panelsbeing appreciably less than the distance from said score lines to thelower edges of the outer side panels; a cushion panel hingedly connectedalong an opposite pair of side edges to the lower edges of said innerside panels at a distance from the lower edge of said carton equal tothe diiference in height between the lower edges of said inner sidepanels and the lower edges of said outer side panels; a pair of opposedend panels attached at their upper edges to said top panels, said endpanels comprising a pair of opposed outer end panels being cut away attheir upper central portions hingedly connected at the lateral portionsof their upper edges to said polygonal top panels, a pair of opposedinner end panels located between, parallel to and in contact with saidouter end panels with each conforming to the shape of the portion cutaway in the outer end panels and with the bottoms of the cut outportions in the outer end panels coinciding with the tops of said innerend panels intermediate the top and bottom edges of said outer endpanels, said inner end panels being hingedly connected at their loweredges to said cushion panel; a bottom panel hingedly attached to thelower edges of said outer side panels and closure means hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said carton for maintaining the carton inpermanent set-up form with said cushion panel being suspended anappreciable distance above the bottom panel and to provide a continuouswindow opening comprising the cut away portions of said outer sidepanels and the unclosed portion of the top of the carton.

8. A cushioned display carton formed of a single blank suitably cut andscored comprising a pair of opposed outer side panels being cut away attheir upper central portions; polygonal top panels hingedly connected tothe lateral portions of the upper edges of the outer side panels locatedat the ends of said carton and of size to close only a portion of thetop of the carton; a pair of opposed inner side panels hingedlyconnected to said outer side panels at score lines which form the upperedges of said inner side panels and are intermediate the top and bottomedges of said outer side panels, the height of said inner side panelsbeing appreciably less than the distance from said score lines to thelower edges of the outer side panels; a cushion panel hingedly connectedalong an opposite pair of side edges to the lower edges of said innerside panels at a distance from the lower edge of said carton equal tothe difference in height between the lower edges of said inner sidepanels and the lower edges of said outer side panels; a pair of opposedend panels attached at their upper edges to said top panels, said endpanels comprising a pair of opposed outer end panels being cut away attheir upper central portions hingedly connected at the lateral portionsof their upper edges to said polygonal top panels, a pair of opposedinner end panels located between, parallel to and in contact with saidouter end panels with each conforming to the shape of the portion cutaway in the outer end panels and with the bottoms of the cut outportions in the outer end panels coinciding with the tops of said innerend panels intermediate the top and bottom edges of said outer endpanels, said inner end panels being hingedly connected at their loweredges to said cushion panel; a bottom panel hingedly attached to thelower edges of said outer side panels and closure means hingedlyconnected to the end edges of said carton; said closure means havingsupporting tabs hingedly attached thereto, said supporting tabs locatedin the closed carton between and in contact with the top of said bottompanel and the bottom of said cushion panel at the lateral edges of saidpanels so as to support said cushion panel at a distance from saidbottom panel and to provide a continuous window opening comprising thecut away portions of said outer side panels and the unclosed portion ofthe top of the carton.

Ringler May 3l, 1938 Vines et al Oct. 28, 1958

1. A UNITARY CARTON BLANK ADAPTED TO BE FORMED INTO A DISPLAY CARTONHAVING WINDOW OPENINGS, SAID BLANK BEING SUITABLY CUT AND SCORED TO FORMA CENTRAL PANEL DEFINED BY A PAIR OF LONGITUDINAL PARALLEL SPACED SCORELINES AND A PAIR OF TRANSVERSE PARALLEL SPACED SCORE LINES; A PAIR OFOPPOSED SIDE PANELS HINGEDLY ATTACHED TO SAID CENTRAL PANEL ALONG SAIDLONGITUDINAL SCORE LINES; A PAIR OF OPPOSED END PANELS HINGEDLY ATTACHEDTO SAID CENTRAL PANEL BY SAID TRANSVERSE SCORE LINES AND HAVING ENDCLOSURE MEANS HINGEDLY ATTACHED THERETO; A BOTTOM PANEL HINGEDLYATTACHED TO ONE OF SAID SIDE PANELS ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL EDGE OPPOSITETHE SAID CENTRAL PANEL; SAID CENTRAL PANEL BEING DIVIDED BY ANGULAR CUTLINES NEAR THE CORNERS THEREOF INTO A CUSHION PANEL AND TOP PANELSLOCATED AT THE CORNERS OF SAID CENTRAL PANEL; SAID SIDE PANELS BEARINGINTERNAL SCORE LINES LYING NEARER TO THE LONGITUDINAL EDGE THEREOFADJACENT SAID CENTRAL PANEL THAN TO THE OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL EDGE, THEENDS OF SAID INTERNAL SCORE LINES BEING CONNECTED BY CUT LINES WITH THEADJACENT ENDS OF SAID ANGULAR CUT LINES WHEREBY SAID SIDE PANELS AREDIVIDED INTO INNER SIDE PANELS LYING ADJACENT THE LONGITUDINAL EDGES OFSAID CUSHION PANEL AND OUTER SIDE PANELS LYING OUTSIDE SAID CONNECTINGCUT LINES AND SAID INTERNAL SCORE LINES JOINING THEM.